Even though the games will be played within the ICC Standard One-Day International Playing Conditions. Guyana Floodlight softball cricket association has formulated the following playing conditions it deems necessary for the playing of softball cricket. It is the responsibility of all Managers and Captains to ensure that their team members are familiar with these playing conditions and fully adhere to them. By registering with GFSCA, every such individual agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the league.

NOTE: Situations may arise that are either partially covered or not covered at all by these rules, and in such instance(s) GFSCA reserves the right to make decision(s) to address such situation.

THE PREAMPLE - THE SPIRIT OF CRICKET

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its laws but also within the Spirit of the game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes only injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

There are two laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain:

1.Responsibility of Captains:

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Players Conduct

In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticizing by words or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player’s captain, and instruct the latter to the action.

2.Fair and Unfair Play:

According to the laws the Umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The Umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action when required.

3.The Umpires are authorized to intervene in case of:

Time wasting;

Damaging the pitch;

Dangerous or unfair bowling;

Tampering with the ball;

Any other action that they consider to be unfair.

4.The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:

Your opponents;

Your own captain and team;

The role of the umpires;

The game’s traditional values.

5.It is against the Spirit of the game:

To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture

To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire

To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:

To appeal in knowing that the batsman is not out.

To advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.

To seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side.

6.Violence:

There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

7.Players:

Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match.

Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.

1.REGISTRATIONS

1.1

The tournaments' registration fees are eight hundred U.S dollars (US$800) for The Guyana Cup Open 20/20 and six hundred U.S dollars (US$600) for the Guyana Cup Master 20/20. These fees are payable to GFSCA.

1.2

A team roster of fifteen (15) players is to be submitted to GFSCA.The deadline for this list is at the team’s orientation meeting on 27th Oct 2011. After this deadline no team would be allowed to make any change(s) to their players roster.

1.3

Any team found using player(s) not registered or under a different name will forfeit the game and disciplinary action may be taken against that team.

1.4

It is imperative that players, when registering, use their correct names together with their nickname or “calling name” in bracket.

1.5

No player would be allowed to participate in The Guyana Cup open 20/20 and The Guyana Cup Master 20/20 in the same calendar year.

The Guyana Cup Master 20/20

1.6

The Guyana Cup Master 20/20 competition is for players who are at the age of forty (40) or older.

1.7

A player MUST be born in the year 1971 or earlier to celebrate his fortieth birthday by the end of the year 2011, to be eligible to participate in this competition.

1.8

It is imperative that players have a legal picture identity card (such as a valid driver’s license, I.D card or passport) clearly showing their name and date of birth.

1.9

Should a player(s) fail to produce such picture(s) of identity when requested by the GFSCA tournament organizers he (they) would not be allowed to participate or continue in the tournament.

1.10

Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association reserves the right to refuse registration of any player(s) without giving a reason.

1.11

All registration fees are non-refundable once the tournament has started.

2.START OF THE GAME

2.1

The recommended time of arrival of teams at the field for the first game is 8:30 am. The scheduled start time of game is at 9:00am. Starting of the game requires the first ball to be bowled at 9:00am, unless another time is designated due to the weather or playing condition. It is necessary for teams to get to the ground in ample time to ensure a 9:30 am start.

2.2

There will be a thirty (30)minutes grace period starting at 9:00am, following which for every five(5) minutes a team is late one (1) over will be deducted from the number of overs that team has to bat. All minutes late are rounded to the nearest five(5) e.g. 12 minutes is two (2)overs and nineteen (19) minutes late is four (4) overs.

2.3

Any team not ready to start by 9:30am will forfeit the game. A team shall consist of no less than seven (7) players and no more than eleven (11) players.

2.4

All matches will consist of one (1) innings per team and each innings being limited to the prescribed overs of the said competitions -The Guyana Cup Open is twenty (20) overs and the Guyana Cup Master also being twenty (20) overs.

2.5

The overs may be reduced due to unforeseen circumstances in increments of five (5) overs. No game shall be less than ten (10) overs. A bowler shall bowl only a maximum of one fifth (1/5) of the allotted overs.

3.THE PLAYERS

3.1

A match is played between two sides. Each side shall consist of eleven (11) players, one of whom shall be captain.

3.2

Each captain shall nominate eleven (11) players plus a substitute fielder in writing to the Match Umpire(s) and opposing Captain before the toss. No player (member of the playing eleven) may be changed after the nominations without the consent of the opposing captain.

3.3

Only those nominated as substitute fielder shall be entitled to act as substitute fielder during the match, unless the match umpire(s), in exceptional circumstances, allows subsequent additions.

3.4

All those nominated including those nominated as substitute fielder, must be eligible to play for that particular team and by such nomination the nominee shall warrant that they are so eligible.

3.5

No team’s Captains shall be allowed to make changes to their nominated players list once the game has started. The match umpires will be in charge to making sure that this is in force by both Captains.

4.RESULTS

4.1

If the team batting second exceeds the score of the team batting first, the team batting second is awarded a WIN. If not, the team that batted first gets the WIN.

4.2

If bad weather prevents further play during the innings of the team batting second then the result of the game shall be determined as follows.

(a) If less than ten (10) overs in the Guyana Cup open 20/20 competition were completed for the team batting second, the result is a DRAW. And if less than (10) overs in the Guyana Cup Master 20/20 competition were completed for the team batting second, the result is a DRAW

(b) If ten(10) overs or more were completed for the team batting second in the Guyana Cup Open 20/20 then the score of the corresponding over will be compared. And if ten(10) or more overs were completed for the team batting second in the Guyana Cup Master 20/20 then the score of the corresponding over will be compared, and the team scoring the most runs will be rewarded a WIN. If the corresponding scores are the same, the team losing fewer wickets will be awarded the WIN.

(c) If play stopped during an over, then the number of overs completed will be determined as follow: If 1, 2 or 3 deliveries have been bowled, and then the score at the end preceding over will be used. If 4 or more deliveries have been bowled, then that over will be counted as completed. For example, if play stopped in the 17th over after 3 balls have been bowled, and then the score at the end of the 16th over will be used. If 4 or more balls have been bowled, then the score at the end of the 17th over will be used.

4.3

THE GAME

If the scores are equal, the result shall be a TIE, but only if the side batting last has completed its innings. No account shall be taken of the number of wickets which have fallen.

4.4

SUPER OVER ELIMINATOR

A TIE game, it is necessary for the game to have a result or winner; therefore a Super Over Eliminator (SOE) rule(s) will be implied as follows.

4.5

Super over eliminator, immediately after the match concludes a one (1) over (SOE) game will be played. The SOE will take place on the pitch allocated for the match (the designated pitch) unless otherwise determined by the umpires.

4.6

The game must be played using the same eleven (11) players as in the earlier match. An injured player may use a substitute fielder who would not be allowed to bat, bowl or as the wicketkeeper.

4.7

The team batting second in the match will bat first in the Super Over Eliminator.

4.8

The umpires shall stand at the same end as that in which they finished the match.

4.9

The umpires shall choose which end to bowl and both teams will bowl from the same end.

4.10

The nominated players are given in writing to the official match umpires. The official match umpires shall not disclose the names of the nominated players to any other person until both teams have submitted their respective nominees. These nominated players must not be change.

4.11

A new ball shall be used by both teams. Each team’s over is played with the same fielding restrictions as per competitions rules.

4.12

The loss of two (2) wickets in the over ends the team’s one over innings.

4.13

Should the SOE game end with the score equal, the following will decide the winner: The team losing the least number of wickets will be the winner. If both teams lost the same number of wickets then the team hitting the most sixes (boundaries) will be the winner. If both teams team hit the same number of sixes (boundaries) then the team hitting the most fours (boundaries) will be the winner. If both teams team hit the same number of fours (boundaries) then the team with the most number of triple will be the winner. If both teams team hit the same number of triple then the team with the most number of double will be the winner.

5.POINTS

5.1 Points will be awarded as follows:

WIN

9 Points

DRAW

3 Points

ABANDONED

No Points

5.2

Any points won against a team that is either disbanded or expelled during any competition will stand, and will be including in the final points count. Also, all statistics relating to any such game will be considered in determining prizes.

6.UMPIRES AWARDING A MATCH

6.1

A match shall be lost by a side which either

a) Concedes defeat or

b) In the opinion of the umpire refuses to play and the umpires shall award the match to the other side.

c) If an umpire considers that an action by any player or players might constitute a refusal by either side to play then the umpires together shall ascertain the cause of the action. If they decide together that this action does constitute a refusal to play by one side, they shall so inform the captain of that side. If the captain persists in the action the umpires shall award the match in accordance with (a) or (b).

7.NET RUN RATE

7.1

In the event that teams are TIED in points after qualifying games, the following rules will be applied to determine who will advance to the playoffs.

a) If two teams are tied with the same points, head to head clash will determine the team that will advance to the playoff. If the two teams head to head clash game was abandoned or the teams didn’t meet in the qualifying round, then the net run rate differential rule will be applied as described in b, c, d and e below.

(b) The team batting first, regardless of how many overs they batted, their score will be divided by the allotted overs as per the competition. This rule recognizes the advantage of bowling the team out before their allotted over are completed.

(c) If the team batting second wins, the run rate will be decided by the amount of overs batted to make the target score. This rule recognizes the advantage of winning within the allotted overs.

(d) If the team batting second loses, that team’s run rate will be determined by dividing their scores allotted overs as per competition.

(e) In the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, head to head clash will determine the team that will advance to the playoff. That is, if one of the teams beat the other teams, then that winning team will advance. If head to head clash cannot determine which team will advance, then the net run rate will be applied. The team with the highest net run rate will advance.

8.RESCHEDULING

8.1

Rescheduling will be entertained if the venue should become unavailable and another venue cannot attain within reasonable time.

8.2

If the umpires determine that bad weather prevents play for the day, the game (s) may be rescheduled. Should it become necessary to move to another location after a game has started, the game will continue and not commence as a new game on the same day.

9.MATCH REPORT / SCORE SHEETS

9.1

It is the responsibility of the Managers and Captains to ensure that the Score / Match Report sheets are submitted within one (1) hour after the game is over. Score / Report Sheets received after the prescribed time may result in the statistics not being credited to the player of those teams.

9.2

Statistics will be prepared immediately after the completion of each game. It is the sole responsibility of team’s managers and captains to ensure that their score / match report sheets are submitted in a timely manner only on the match report sheets supplied by the GFSCA.

10.NO BALL

10.1

The one run penalty for a NO BALL shall be scored as a NO BALL extra. Unless the call is revoked, this penalty shall stand even if the batsman is dismissed. Any runs completed by the batsman or a boundary allowance shall be credited to the striker if the ball has been struck by the bat, otherwise they shall also be scored as NO Ball extra. All runs resulting from a NO BALL shall be debited against the bowler.

11.WIDE

11.1

A penalty of one run shall be credited instantly on the call of WIDE BALL, unless the call of wide is revoked or changed by the umpire. All runs completed by the batsmen or a boundary allowance together with the penalty for the WIDE, shall be scored as WIDE BALLS. All runs resulting from a WIDE BALL shall be debited against the bowler.

12.BREAK

12.1

A Break of five (5) minutes is allowed for refreshments (water, soda and other non alcoholic beverages) when the half way point of each innings is reached. A break of ten (10) minutes is allowed between innings.

13.EQUIPMENT

13.1

1 A wicket shall comprise of four (4) stumps, be twelve (12) inches wide overall, and twenty eight (28) inches high. No metal stumps or wickets are allowed. The length of the pitch from stump to stump shall be twenty (20) yards or sixty (60) feet.

13.2

A bat must not exceed four and a quarter (4 ¼) inches in width. It is recommended that bails be used.

14.BALLS

14.1

GFSCA will provide balls for all the games and no other balls may be used. It will be solely the umpire’s decisions to allocate the balls as they deem equitable for each inning. It is mandatory that a minimum of two (2) balls be used per inning. Each captain may request to see all four (4) balls prior to the start of the game.

14.2

Should the ball be changed due to being damaged or lost before the completion of the tenth (10) over a new ball must be taken counting Ten (10) overs from the over in which the new ball was taken. The same will be done for either/both the twenty (20) competitions. All replacements must be with a new ball.

15.FIELDERS

15.1

At the instant of delivering the ball there may be no more than five (5) fielders on either side of the wicket (onside and offside). In the event of an infringement of this rule with rule either umpire may call a “NO BALL.”

15.2

The wicketkeeper MUST at all times wear a pair of cricket wicket keeping gloves, whenever he is keeping the wicket during the game.

16.LEGAL DELIVERY – THE ARM

16.1

The softball cricket bowler MUST bowl under hand; the bowler MUST carry his bowling arm below the waist. At the point of release (ball) he must not bend his elbow or this would constitute a no ball.

16.2

The umpire (s) will determine the legality of the delivery, below the waist and bending of the bowling arm.

17BOWLER ATTEMPTING TO RUN OUT NON-STRIKER

17.1

The bowler may attempt to run out the non – striker, after he has started his bowling strides. But not after he has completed his bowling action, he must not retain (hold on to) the ball in his hand tricking the striker in disguise of attempting a run out.

17.2

Should the bowler fail in his attempt of running out the non – striker or retaining (hold on to) the ball, the umpire at the bowler’s end shall call and signal DEAD BALL. If the bowler made the out, the batsman shall be ruled RUN OUT and the ball shall not be counted as part of the over.

18.PROTESTS

18.1

All protests must be submitted immediately after the game has ended from which the protest originated and must be done in writing. A written protest (email is ok) must be submitted to the Games Chairman within this time any late filing may not be considered as valid.

18.2

The Disciplinary / Protest Committee will review the protest and if necessary, will convene a hearing so that both parties are afforded the right to be heard. All protest will be attended to, including any hearing to be done before the next scheduled game or on the evening of the day of filing.

18.3

It is necessary that the opposing Captain and the Umpire (s) be notified before, during the game, of the intent to protest, failing to adhere to this, the committee may reject the protest.

18.4

Should any situation arise before, during or after the game that necessitates a report such report must be submitted before the next scheduled game or within one (1) hour after the game has ended.

18.5

All protests, disciplinary matters or any situation that may require a hearing, this will be done by a committee comprising of the Association’s five (5) executive members along with the tournament director and Games Chairman. Should there be an absent executive member a person will be appointed by the Association president.

An umpire’s decision is final. Any team or player found to be abusive or aggressive towards the umpire (s) during or after the game will be subject to disciplinary measures (refer to infractions and penalty chart).

20.CONDUCT

20.1

These matches / games are played under the egis of Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association and are governed, where applicable by the RULE and REGULATIONS of GFSCA. The conduct of all players / members is bounded by these.

20.2

GFSCA has a policy of zero tolerance for misconduct. The Association would like to caution, all managers, captains, members and teams to keep this in mind when registering for the tournaments.

20.3

Exemplary behavior and sportsmanship must be exhibited by all players, members and supporters at all games. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary measures. Also see I.C.C Code of Conduct as adapted by GFSCA.

20.4

It is the responsibility of the Captain / Vice – Captain to eject a player upon the umpire’s instruction. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the game. A substitute will not be allowed for an ejected player.

20.5

The following penalties approved by the membership will automatically be applied to the respective infractions.

INFRACTIONS

PENALTY

(a). Assault on any player(s), umpire(s)

Suspension of player(s) from the tournament

(b). Deliberate act of knocking down the wicket or stump during the match

Suspension from the tournament

(c). Verbal abuse of the Umpire(s) and / or GFSCA official

One game Suspension

(d). Illegal drug use or alcoholic beverage consumption during a game by player(s).

One Game Suspension

(e). An umpire’s report of two cautions to a player in a game.

One game Suspension

(f). Failure to produce an official picture identity of player(s) upon request by the opposing team of GFSCA official

Player would not be allowed in game. And if participate – forfeit of the game and a win will be awarded to the opposing team.

21.CAUTIONS

21.1

Based upon the umpire(s) judgment and discretion, cautions may be issued to a player for the following:

When an umpire officially cautions a player, it is imperative that he makes his intentions known to his fellow umpire, and to the respective captains. Any player(s) who is issued two (2) cautions in a game and is reported by the umpire(s) will be automatically suspended for one (1) game, i.e. the next scheduled game.

21.3

The aforementioned infractions and cautions are not inclusive of all potential infractions and cautions. All managers, captains and team members collectively are responsible for ensuring exemplary behavior and sportsmanship.

21.4

Regardless of the penalties stipulated above (see chart), depending upon the incident(s). The tournament committee reserves the right to consider instituting further penalties which may include expulsion from the tournament.

All teams’ players participating in the games must be uniformed at the start and until the completion of the game.

22.2

GFSCA may provide t-shirts to teams to promote sponsors and if teams are asked to wear and display them, the Association would like your co-operation.

23.BAD WEATHER / RAIN AND BALL CHANGE

23.1

In the event of bad weather / rain, it is solely the umpires of the game who will decide when to stop play.

23.2

In the event of bad weather / rain, it is solely the games chairman and umpires of the game that will decide when play will resume (a delay will be re-evaluated one hour after the rain stops).

24.DECISIONS:

24.1

In electing to participate in Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association tournaments/activities, teams and players agree to abide by the decisions of the Executive Committee, or any other Committee, acting for, or on behalf of the Association. Such decisions shall be final and binding.

24.2

Decisions of the Executive Committee, or any other Committee of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association, shall not be subject to litigation in court of law in Guyana or otherwise.

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL

The following code of conduct has been approved by the ICC and is herby adopted by Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association

ICC CODE OF CONDUCT

1.

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game, and well as within the laws.

2.

Players and team officials shall not at anytime engage in conduct unbecoming to an international player or team official which could bring them or the game into disrepute.

3.

Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire(s) decisions; players must not show dissent at the umpire’s decision.

4.

Players and team officials shall not intimidate assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.

5.

Players and team’s official shall not use crude or abusive language known as “sledging”, nor make offensive gestures.

6.

Players and team’s official shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.

7.

Players and team officials shall not disclose or comment upon any alleged breach of the code or upon any hearing, report or decisions arising from such breach.

8.

Players and teams officials shall not make any public pronouncement or media comment which is detrimental either to the game in general, or to a particular tour in which they are involved, or about any tour between other countries which is taking place, or to relations between the boards of the competing teams.